The 2023 NASCAR season has gotten underway with Ricky Stenhouse JR. winning the Daytona 500, his first victory since 2017. Every NASCAR season there seems to be something that no one expects.

Here are four bold predictions for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Martin Truex JR. will win a race

Truex went winless during the 2022 NASCAR season. But he did win the clash held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, but it is not a race that earns you a playoff spot. Coming off a season winless is concerning, but with the experience that Truex has, I believe he can turn it around this season. Remember, Joey Logano won the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum in 2022 and ended up being the champion. Can Truex do the same?

Trackhouse Racing shows the 2022 season was NOT a fluke

Drivers of Trackhouse Racing, Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez both made the playoffs last year and they will make it again this year. Chastain hit his stride as a driver since moving to Trackhouse, making the final four this past year. Chastain and Suarez are both good road course racers and with NASCAR scheduling six road course races this year, it should be interesting.

North Wilkesboro will sell out

NASCAR will return to North Wilkesboro on May 21 for this year’s All-Star race. This will be the first race at the track since 1996 when Jeff Gordon took the victory. This race should bring just as much excitement as it did in the 80s and 90s.

Harvick goes out in style

Stewart-Haas driver Kevin Harvick has informed the media that 2023 will be his final full-time Cup Series season. Harvick, the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, will go out a champion just like Peyton Manning. At the age of 47, Harvick will show the young guns a thing or two and take the trophy into retirement.

“daniel suarez” by Zach Catanzareti is licensed under CC BY 2.0